With a mission to explore, explain and protect the natural world, the California Academy of Sciences’ incredibly innovative 412,000 square foot structure has become the world’s greenest museum and is sure to attract many seekers with similar goals in mind.
In hand with their focus of understanding how life has evolved and how can it be sustained, their new building is saturated with sustainability from its walls that are insulated with recycled blue jeans, to its vast energy generating solar canopy, radiant floor heating, glass walls which provide 90% of the buildings lighting needs, and a 2.5 acre living roof whose six inches of topsoil act to prevent valuable rainwater from becoming another casualty of the storm water drainage system.
While taking in the museum’s novel new appearance, one’s eyes are immediately drawn to the living rooftop blanketing the building with native plants that will host numerous species of birds, butterflies, and insects. This earthen roof reduces the inside air temperature by 10 degrees and is one of the reasons why many eco-minded individuals are choosing to build into the earth instead of making their presence known up top.
Besides trimming down on energy consumption and reducing erosion and water waste, these sub-surface hideaways allow free roaming creatures to better survive amidst an increasingly humanistic habitat.
For more information on hobbit-approved housing, visit: subsurfacebuildings.com and be sure to learn more about the California Academy of Sciences green makeover at calacademy.org/.
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This is so exciting to see. I’m anxious to visit next time I’m in California. Thanks for letting us know. My son is the curator or archaeology at the Museum of Nature and Science in Denver. They are planning an expansion and surely this thinking should be included.
Thanks Lynn for your comment. Your son sounds like he has a wonderful job and I hope his museum is able to incorporate some of these great green qualities into its expansion. When they do, let us know =)
What a perfect example of eco-friendly development that benefits the planet, people and it’s animals. Maybe it will open the eyes of the developers that green buildings and living is within there reach.